Valve inserting mechanism



March 19; 1-946. D. F. O'BRIEN 2,396,964

VALVE INSERTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10; 1942 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOJaws FOB/W5 March 19,1946. D.,F.OBRiEN v 2,396,964

VALVE INSERTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 4fizzy;

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Patented Mar. 19, 1946 VALVEINSERTING MECHANISM 7 Denis F. OBrien, EastOrange, N.-J.; Hubert F.

OBrien executor of said Denis F. OBrien, de-

ceased Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465,119 3 Claims. (01.29213) This invention relates to improvements in valve insertingmechanism.

It is an object of the invention to provide mechanism for insertinghorizontal valves in pipes or mains under pressure without stopping theflow through the pipe, by means of which the valve may be insertedvertically and then turned into horizontal position.

It is a further object Of the invention to provide mechanism usable forinserting either vertical or horizontal valves.

With these and other objects which will appear in the followingdescription in mind the invention consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterfully described in connection with the accompanying drawings andthenmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a main, showing the lowerpart of a machine, em- .bodyin-g the invention in a preferred form, inposition thereon; V

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Figure 6;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with certain parts removedand showing the valve I turned into horizontal position;

Figure 5 is a view showing the machine in central longitudinal section,with the parts in the position occupied just prior to insertion of thevalve;

Figure 6 is a view in central longitudinal section showing the valve ininserted position; and

Figure '7 is a detail vertical cross section, showing fittingsincorporated in the dome cover f the machine for operating a cutter andlowering the valve into position.

The machine and method of the present invention are improvements on themachine and method disclosed in Denis F. OBrien Patent No. 1,174,342issued March 7, 1916, by which improvements it becomes possible toinsert horizontal Valves in vertical position and then turn the same tohorizontal position and also to employ the same machine for insertion ofboth horizontal and vertical valves In the case of horizontal valves,the difliculties inherent in horizontal inserting mechanism are thusavoided.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 5 in which the main I is shown withthe machine in position upon it, the machine will be seen to include anexterior housing for the main, comprising a lower section 2, having aside plate 3 removably fastened to it by means of bolts 4, and an upperhousing'section 5 mounted on the lower section 2 andfastened thereto andto the removable side plate 3, as by means of shackle bolts (not shown).Mounted in turnupon the upper housing section 5 and fastened thereto byshackle bolts 1 is a dome comprising a dome body 8 and a removabledomecover 9.

The foregoing parts constitute a water tight enclosure around the pipeor main, being completed by end plates or stufing boxes I0 which arefastened to the housing sections 2 and 5 (Figures 2 and 5) ,as by boltsl 1; Each end plate lilis made in two parts as indicated in Figure 2,for fitting around the main, and makes a watertight joint therewith bymeans of packing as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. The end plates alsofit into the housing and may be sealed thereto by gaskets or packing,not shown. 1

' Means is provided for closing off the lower part of the machine fromthe dome and comprises a gate [2 slidably supported by ribs l3 upon thehousing sidewalls and adapted to fit against a gasket 14 as shown inFigure 5. The gate [2 is operated by means of a rod [5 fastened thereto,extending through a stuffing box in the wall of housing section 5 andterminating in a handle l6 outside the casing. As shown in Figure 5, thesupports I3 are slanted so that the gate l2 will move downwardly awayfrom the gasket [4 when handle it is pulled out and will be pressed orwedged up against the gasket it when the handle 16 is pushed in. Aby-pass ll containing a valve I8 is provided for interconnecting thelower portion of the machine and the dome 8 when the gate-l2 is in placeso as to permit equalizing of pressure above and below the gate. Thedome cover 9 is provided, as in thec'ase of my previous patent, abovereferred to, with a stufling box, accommodating an operating rod I9, theupper end of which is threaded 'as indicated in Figure 5 and which maybe raised and lowered by means.

of'the sleeve 20 by turning a correspondingly threaded handwheel H, Themachine includes also a cutter operating shaft'22 which likewise passesthrough a stufiing box in the dome cover 9, and with which is associatedsuitable gearing, (Figure '7), for rotating" the same. This cutter shaftoperating mechanism is the same as in the case of my previous patent,above referred to, and requires no further description.

A further operating means for positioning parts longitudinally of themain is provided and 'consitsof a pai r of jacks 2 3; the operating rods24 of which extend through stufilng boxes 25 into the housing andterminate in heads 26 arranged to enter into recesses in a sleevemember, later referred to. An abutment for the jacks to operate againstis provided in the form of a split ring 21 which is bolted around themain as shown in Figure 5. Within the casing is a sleeve member 28formed in two parts and fastened around the main as by means of bolts29. The sleeve 28 includes a packing 38 and an end portion 3| adapted tofit against the valve and provided with packing grooves 32.

When an insertion is to be made, a suitable cutter, such as shown, forexample, in Patent No. 587,091, may be positioned around the main andthe cutting operation partly performed, and then the housing parts, thesleeve 28, jacks 23 and abutment 28, may be assembled around the main asshown in Figure 5. The valve, however, will not be in position in thedome. As will be understood, the main, prior to completion of thecutting operation, is continuous, Figure 5 showing the condition of themain after the cutter and cut out section have been removed. With theparts so assembled, the remainder of the cutting operation will becarried out, utilizing shaft 22 for this purpose, and the rod l9 beingattached to the cutter for lifting the same upon completion of thecutting. When the cutting is completed, rod I9 is used to lift thecutter, together with the section of pipe which has been out out, into.the dome in the position occupied by the valve in Figure 5. The gate[2, which will of course be withdrawn during the foregoing operation, isnow pushed to the position of Figure 5 by means of handle l6 and theentire dome structura. together with the cutter and cut out pipesection, may be removed by uniastening shackle bolts 1. The'dome willnow be replaced with the valve 33 in the position of Figure 5, supportedfrom the rod I9 by links 34 pivotally connected to the valve and to therod [9 as shown. Valv I8 is now opened, permitting water to enter thedome throughbypass I1, equalizing the pressure above and below the gatel2 and the gate I2 is withdrawn tothe position of Figure 6 by means ofhandle l6.

Handwheel 2| is now operated. to lower the valve into position betweenthe cut ends of. the main. Cooperating guide members 35 and 36 upon thevalve and upon the dom 8 and upper casing 5, respectively, serve tokeep. the valve in proper position during its descent to the .level ofthe main (Figure 3).

For guiding the valve in its longitudinal movement a downwardlyprojecting lower guide member 31 upon the valve and a cooperating lug 38upon the floor of housing section 2 are provided. As shown in Figures 3to 6, the valve member 31 has a V-shaped groove adapted to receive acorrespondingly V-shaped guiding portion 39 of the lug 38. The lug 38,however, includes also a flat or substantially flat portion 40 adapted,to support the projection 31 but permitting sidewise movement. The lug38, which may be removably mounted on the floor of the housing section 2is positioned so that the valve maycome to rest, after beinglowered,with its projection 31 upon the V-shaped portion 38, but so thatprojection 38 wil1 pass off the portion 39 onto flat portion 48 wheninposition on the mam.

With the valve in lowered position and resting on the lug 38 the jacks'23 areoperatedflorcing sleeve 28 against the valve so as to push thegaskets M are preferably formed with peripheral notches to accommodatethe wedges so that they may be inserted past the wedges and .thenrotated slightly so as to be held in place thereby. The: valve body isalso formed with flanges 43 having hubs adapted for receiving packingmembers which may be applied later.

With the valve in position as described the dome may now be disassembledand removed together with rod 19 and the upper housing section 5 (Figure5) and the side plate 3 may also be taken ofi so that the only housingmembers remaining in place are the lower section 2 and the lowerportions of end plates l8. Aswill be apparent, the valve is still heldin position by means of the jacks 23. The entire valve may now be turnedas by means of a block and tackle, so asto lie horizontally in theposition of Figure 4, the opening normally closed off by the side plate3 being of sufiicient size to accommodate the valve in this position.The valve hubs and, sleeve 28 may now be packed and calked and the restof. the mechanism removed, completing the installation as in my previousPatent No. 1,174,342.

As will be apparent, the machine ofthe invention is adapted also toinserting vertical valves, it being necessary in this .case merely toleave out the step of turning the valve after it has been inserted. Themachine is also adaptable to inserting valves of different sizes, thisnecessitating merely the substitution of suitable stufiing boxes l8 tofit the main of another diameter.

What is claimed is:

1. In valve inserting mechanism for inserting valves in a main underpressurewithout interrupting flow therethrough, and in combination, ahousing for a main including a lower housing 'section'open at one sidefor accommodating a valve in horizontal position on the main. andincluding also removable housing sections attached to said lower housingsection, adome removably mounted'upon said housing, and valve insertingmechanism within said dome and housing, the said dome and removablehousing sections being removable to permit turning said valve fromvertical to horizontal position while said lower housing section remainsin position on said main.

2. In valve inserting mechanism for inserting valves in a main underpressure without interrupting flow therethrough, and in combination,ahousing for a main including a lower housing section open at one sidefor accommodating a valve in horizontal position on the main and'ineluding also removable housing sections attached to said lower housingsection, means in said lower housing section for holding a valve ininserted position longitudinally of the main, a dome removably mountedupon said housing, and valve inserting mechanism within said dome andhousing, the said dome and removable housingsections being removabletopermit turning. of said valve from vertical. to horizontal positionwhile said lower housing section remains in position on said main.

position longitudinally of the main, a dome removably mounted upon saidhousing, and valve inserting mechanism within said dome and housing, thesaid dome and removable housing sections being removable to permitturning of said valve from vertical to horizontal position while saidlower housing section remains in position on said main.

DENIS F. OBRIEN.

